Colleges urge international students not to travel spring break

Colleges in the U.S. are warning international students not to travel abroad for spring break. This advice comes amid fears of visa cancellations and deportations under recent immigration policies from the Trump administration. Many international students feel trapped as they prepare for spring break from March 22 to 30. Universities such as Brown, Columbia, and Cornell have sent out notifications suggesting that students refrain from international travel due to potential risks. Reports have surfaced of students losing their visas after leaving the country. The heightened immigration enforcement has created anxiety among the more than 1.12 million international students in the U.S. Some students are concerned they could be deported based on their nationality or political views. For example, a doctoral candidate at Columbia had her visa revoked after engaging with social media posts about human rights, while a physician at Brown faced similar issues upon returning to the U.S. Experts describe the recent actions as unprecedented and a potential violation of students' rights. Many students are seeking legal advice and trying to navigate the uncertain situation. A journalism student at Columbia shared their worries about being targeted and emphasized the emotional toll that these developments have taken. Institutions are closely monitoring the situation, and they warn that travel restrictions could change suddenly. For now, students are encouraged to consider their personal risk factors before making travel decisions.